Last Chance Family

Charlene stood in the kitchen doorway, her hair wet, her stomach empty, and her heart suddenly racing. Mike leaned against the counter, his head hung low. He seemed to be struggling to draw breath.

She crossed the room and put her hand on the middle of his back. His T-shirt was soft, the body beneath it hard and warm.

He straightened and let out a big breath. “Sorry.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Killer heartburn,” he said, then immediately changed the subject. He moved toward the coffee maker, shaking off her touch. “You want some coffee?”

He turned and gave her a quick glance. That’s all it took.

Her heart wrenched, and she responded the way she always did when confronted with unspoken pain. She encountered it often, usually in the eyes of animals. But it was there, beyond that mild-mannered expression he tried to wear. He was hurting. She reached up to stroke his cheek. Her fingers encountered his warm skin and rough stubble. That touch flipped her switch. Electricity flowed inside her.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as her fingers moved over his face to his ear and up into his bright red hair.

“Don’t,” he whispered, but he made no attempt to move away. He reminded her of an abused animal that growls when all he wants is a little kindness. She cupped the nape of his neck and pulled him down as she rose up on tip-toes.

She gave him a soft, gentle kiss. Nothing deep or sexy, just a little kiss, intended to comfort. But it didn’t stay that way. Mike grabbed her by the cheeks and pulled her up into it like a man starving for love. His tongue stroked hers. His right hand dropped to her hip, and he yanked her forward and into his chest.

Her knees almost buckled. But she didn’t fall, because Mike had her. His hand found the small of her back as he sagged against the counter. They leaned together, thigh to thigh, chest to chest. The kiss turned utterly carnal. His hand wandered up over her spine to her breast. He palmed it. Her nipples came alive. He groaned.

And her whole body throbbed.

She broke the kiss and looked up into his face. His eyes had dilated with desire. His breath sounded ragged. His skin flushed red.

“I want you,” he said in a hoarse voice. “I want to strip you naked and do it right here in the kitchen.”

His words ignited a bad-girl fire that pretty much torched her reservations about him. “Okay.”

His gaze widened. “I’m not a reliable bet,” he said.

She laughed. “You think I don’t know that?”

“Oh.”

She could almost feel him having second thoughts. And she had no intention of allowing that. She’d have the rest of her life to regret this choice. Or not.

Which would she regret more? Letting her reservations about him put the kibosh on this? Or spending the rest of her life wondering if maybe she should have bet on Mike Taggart?

Heartbreak was her middle name. “I’m a gambler,” she whispered. “And sometimes the long shots pay off.”

“Not usually,” he said.

“Maybe not. But I’m the eternal optimist.”Will

My Review:

I know your not suppose to judge a book by the cover  ~ but I would read this just because the cover is so cute. Who could resist such cute kittens? I have read a few books by Hope Ramsay and I have loved them all.  In this book Mike is taking care of Rainbow his niece and her cat.  When he falls for the veterinary assistant at Creature Comforts Animal Hospital and also her neighbor.  They are from two different worlds. This was a great story and one I am sure anyone would enjoy.